Device for applying liquid solder.



H. K. SMITH.

DBVIGE FOR APPLYING LIQUID SOLDER.

APPLIOATION FILED 001.26, 1907. RENBWBD MAR. 1o, 1911.

989,818. Patented Apr. 18, 1911.

llHll ms NaRRls PETERS c., wAsHmproN. o. c.

HARRY K. SMITH, OF FEDERALSBURG, MARYLAND.

DEVICE FOR APPLYING LIQUID SOLDER.

Application led October 26, 1907, Serial No. 399,320.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 18, 1911. Renewed March 10, 1911. Serial No. 613,647.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY K. SMITH, a citizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at Federalsburg, county of Caroline, and State ofMaryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devicesfor Applying Liquid Solder, of which the following is a specification.

The' present invention relates to a machine for applying solder, shownand described as operating in connection with the manufacture of cans orsheet metal receptacles. Itis obvious, however, that the 'device may beemployed in any art in which articles in the process,v of manufactureare advanced successively into engagement with a supply of solder.

My invention contemplates the provision, in connection with a conveyerfor advancing the cans, of a tank for maintaining asupply of moltensolder, one or more nozzles by which solder is directed into the jointsof the cans,

' particularly the joints between the caps or circular ends and thecylindrical bodies, and a valve or valves controlling the supply ofsolder. These valves are normally maintained closed, but are opened whenin the operation of the machine a can is brought into range of thenozzles.

An embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which,-

Figure 1 is a vertical transverse cross-section through the ways, thetank and one valve chamber showing a can on the ways. Fig. 2 is anelevation taken at right angles to Fig. 1.

Theways which consist of parallel angle irons (1) and an intermediateparallel rail (2) are mounted on brackets (3) by which they aresupported in a plane inclined trans# versely to the horizontal. Thesebrackets are secured to the machine frame, a portion of which is shownat 4. The cans are advanced along the ways by an endless chain or belt(5), which imparts to them a rotary movement. The inclination of theways gives to the can bodies a similar inclination, so that as theyadvance one end is higher than the other, and the mouth of the openingbetween the lower cap and the can body is upwardly disposed. Although abelt or chain and ways are herein described and shown as performing thisfunction, any suit-L able means for causing relative motion between thearticle and the solder supply whereby the article is broughtsuccessively into operative relation with the solder supply, may beadopted within the scope of my invention.

A tank (6) of any suitable type adapted to contain molten metal orsolder is supported by brackets (7) extending upward from the machine.This tank is provided with one or more nozzles or stations (8) eachadapted to direct a stream of solder. These nozzles are placed above thelower caps as the cans are fed along the ways and are adapted todischarge in a vertical plane slightly to the left (see Fig. 1) of theupper part of the opening (9) between the flange of each cap and itsbody portion. Each of the nozzles (8) is provided with a conical valveseat (10) having at its apex a vertical opening (30) and all are formedintegral with a plate (11) which is separate from the tank and attachedthereto by means of bolts (12). A valve chamber (13) eX- tendsvertically upward from each valve seat, and the metal is admitted fromthe tank by the openings (14). In the valve chamber (13) is a floatingvalve (15) provided with a face (16) adapted to engage the conical seat(11) when the valve is closed. In the upper portion of the nozzleopening (30) is a guide pin (17) of less diameter than the opening. Thispin forms part of the valve, and serves to guide the face (16) to thevalve seat. At the upper extremity of the valve is an enlarged portionor weight (18) which tends to maint-ain the valve normally closed.

Fulcrumed to any suitable fixed point as the solder tank (6) by pins(19) are a series of levers (20). Each of these levers has an upper anda lower vertical arm. The upper Aarm (21) of each lever is extendedhorizontally to the right and to the rear (see Fig. 2) and forked at itsextremity to embrace the valve stem beneath the weight (18). The lowersurface of the weight (18) of each valve stem is engaged by the forkedarm of the lever, so that as the lever is rotated in left-handed phasefrom its normal position about its center (19) the valve is raised fromits seat. Each downwardly eX- tending arm (22) is provided with a finger(23). This finger is secured to the arm by means of screws (24) engagingslots (25) which provide adjustment of the finger toward and from thecenter. Each finger is offset to the right as shown in Fig. 2 andextends downward toward the surfaces of the cans on the ways, so that aseach can passes and the opening between its lovver cap and itscylindrical body is brought beneath one of the nozzles, it engages theend of the finger of the corresponding actuating lever, opens the valveand receives a charge of solder. The rotation of the can distributes thesolder evenly in the opening and sutileient nozzles suitably placed areprovided to fill the opening between the cap and the body with solder.The charge of solder may be regulated by adjusting the finger by meansof slots and screws 24 and 25 or in any other convenient manner.

Having thus set forth my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. In a device for closing the joints of sheet metal receptacles, meansfor advancing and rotating the receptacles, a container for moltenmetal, means for directing a stream of metal into the end joints, avalve controlling the stream, a lever operating when the end joints arein range of t-he directing means for opening the valve and means foradjusting the length of the lever.

In a device for closing the joints of sheet metal receptacles,transversely inclined ways, means for advancing the receptacles alongthe ways and rotating them, a container for molten metal, means fordirecting a stream of metal into the joints, a valve controlling themetal, and a lever engaging the valve stem and the receptacles and operating when the joints are in range lof the 'directing means to open thevalve.

3. In a device for closing the joints of sheet metal receptacles, meansfor advancing the receptacles in an inclined position, a container formolten metal, means for directing a stream of metal into the end joints,a valve controlling the stream, means tending to maintain the valveclosed, anda lever and I means connected to the lever and extending intothe path of the receptacles operating the lever to raise the valve fromits seat when the end joints are in range of the directing means.

1l. In a device for closing the joints of sheet metal receptacles, meansJor advancing and rotating the receptacles, a container for moltenmetal, a valve, and a lever actuated by the receptacles for opening thevalve.

In a machine for soldering the joints of sheet metal receptacles, acontainer for molten metal, a nozzle to conduct metal from thecontainer, a valve to control the flow of metal from the nozzle, meansfor moving the sheet metal receptacles one at a time into position withan end joint in range of the nozzle, and a member connected to the valveand extending' into the path of the cans to be moved by each can to openthe valve.

6. In a can soldering machine transversely inclined ways, a conveyer forrotating the cans and advancing them along the Ways, a container forsolder having a nozzle adapted to direct Vsolder int-o the lower endjoint of each can as it passes, a valve controlling the supply of solderto the nozzle, and a member extending into the path of the cans to beengaged thereby, to open the valve when each can comes in range of thenozzle and means for closing the valve.

7. In a can soldering machine, a nozzle and means for supplying liquidsolder thereto, means for advancing the cans so that their end jointsare brought vinto range of the nozzle, a valve 'for controlling thesolder supply, and a member operatively engaging the valve and extendinginto the path of the cans, whereby the valve is opened When a can is inrange of the nozzle.

Signed by me at Baltimore, Maryland, this 23rd day of October, '1907. -V

HARRY K. SMITH.

Witnesses:

WM.. F. ACKLER, S. RALPH VVARNKEN.

Copies of this patent may be Vobtained. for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, '.D. C. v

